Curated OER
Microscopes, Telescopes, and Cameras
In this lenses worksheet, students will explain how microscopes work by completing 4 short answer questions. Students will compare refracting telescopes with reflecting telescopes by writing the terms given under the correct column. Then...
Georgia State University
Georgia State University: Hyper Physics: Microscope
This site from Georgia State University Physics Department provides a discussion of how light refracts through the lenses of a microscope. Demonstrates the parts of a microscope and includes an interactive form in which the magnifying...
Florida State University
Florida State University: Microscopy Primer: Anatomy of the Microscope
The premier web site on the physics of microscopy. Includes several pages and numerous Java applets about microscopes and refraction. Thorough, well-illustrated, interactive, fun, and educational. What more can one ask for?
Exploratorium
Exploratorium: Make Your Own Telescope
At this site students can make their own telescope and see how it works with this experiment. Out of a light, a pair of glasses, a magnifying glass and wax paper.
Soft Schools
Soft Schools: Science Games: The Parts of the Microscope
Look closely and see if you can identify the various parts of the microscope.
Georgia State University
Georgia State University: Hyper Physics: Refractive Telescopes
This site from Georgia State University Physics Department gives a discussion of the manner in which light is refracted by refractive telescopes. Discusses the Galielean telescope and the astronomical telescope.
Open Door Team
Open Door Web Site: Biology: Calculating Magnification on a Compound Microscope
Learn how to calculate the total magnification of a microscope on this concise site. Links to making a slide, questions on the use of the microscope, and other related microscope topics are included on this site.
Other
Southern Microscope Service's Home Page
A series of pages explaining how microscopes work, the parts of a microscopes, the techniques of using a microscope, and other useful information.
What2Learn
What2 Learn: The Parts of a Microscope
An activity where students can use the interactive diagram to label the major parts of a microscope.
Other
Science Hobbyist: Making Telescopes
Site describes how to construct a telescope and what you can do with it. Also provides a simple explanation of how telescopes work.
Walter Fendt
Walter Fendt: Refracting Astronomical Telescope
An app for investigating the operation of a refracting telescope. The location of the eyepiece and objective lens can be altered, and the focal point and path of light through the lenses can be observed.